Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. –Matthew 3:2 ; 10:7 (RSVCE)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him. –John 3:16-17
Faith Without Works Is Dead
What does it profit my Brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can faith save
him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Go in
peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it
profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead.
Some one will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your
works and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; You do well. Even
the demons believe and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you foolish fellow that faith apart
from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son
Isaac upon the alter? (Genesis 22:1-19)
You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by works and the
(Holy) Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as
righteousness.’ (Galatians36) Abraham was called the friend of God. (James 2:23)
You see that a man is justified by works and not faith alone and in the same way was not also
Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the Messengers and sent them out
another way? (Joshua 2:1-24)
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. –James 2:14-26
Please Others, Not Yourselves
We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.
(Mark 12:30-31)For Christ did not please Himself but as it is written, ‘The insults of those who insult you have
fallen on me.’ (Psalm 69:9)
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by
steadfastness and by the encouragement of the (Holy) Scriptures we might have hope.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one
another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the
God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel For Jews and Gentiles Alike
Welcome one another, therefore just as Christ has welcomed you, for the Glory of God. For I
tell you that Christ has become a Servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in
order that He might confirm the promises given to the Patriarchs and in order that the Gentiles
might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written. ‘Therefore I will confess you among the
Gentiles and sing praises to Your Name.’ (Psalm 18:49 ; 2 Samuel 22:50) and again He says,
‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;
Again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles and let all the peoples praise Him.’
Again, Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the One who rises to rule the Gentiles; In Him
the Gentiles shall hope.” (Isaiah 11:1-10)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:1-13
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. –
Behold, the Lord comes to save His people;